Israel

I have a classmate with this name! I mean I don't mind it tbh but I'd never choose it.

A beautiful name but perfect example of why you shouldn’t name your child after any country. Given how much time Israel is spending in the news lately and no matter what opinion you have on the war, I would hate my name to be associated with war.

Not sure if I would give this name to my child as a first name, but it’s a cool name if you’re religious and want to match it as a middle name like Jacob since they refer to the same people.

Pretty name if you completely ignore the apartheid state that is Israel. So, yeah, not the best name, and I'd imagine the kid wouldn't be very happy being named after a 'country' that has committed - and is still committing - many atrocities toward the Palestinian people.

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I notice a lot of people here are quick to jump to accusations of "antisemitism" despite Arabs being Semites. The real antisemitism is conflating being Jewish with Zionism. Strange how people would excuse islamophobia and prejudice against Arabs but taking a stance against a murderous, oppressive state is looked down upon.

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The cruelty of the Israeli state is evident with the events of the Nakba and the brutal occupation of Palestine. Please, look into these facts before naming your child this. Words have meanings and you can't just ignore them.

It's a decent name but the absolute awful political situation in Israel makes it probably not the best thing to name your child.

Despite all the people who dislike this name because of a certain country whom certain people despise, I personally love this name and it's fantastic for it's meaning and usage. We should encourage more people to use this name.

This boy named Israel has a crush on my friend, he's constantly being cringey and annoying, as well as impolite towards people I know. Everybody I've met with this name has gotten on my nerves in some way. I think I personally just have bad experiences with people named Israel but I don't really like the name. It kind of bores me tbh. Meh.

Some have mentioned this name or its variants being used for girls. This is a traditionally masculine name, but there is a not-very-common feminine variant Yisraela that I love.

This is a perfectly lovely name.

Israel is one of my favorite names of all time, for either gender. It is just so, so beautiful. To be named after the Holy Land is a true blessing. Gorgeous name.

It's a very bold, strong sounding name. I like it.

What I personally like about this name is on how easy it is to remember and on the merit of it being uncommon, at least where I am from. Overall, a good name if I do say so myself.

I love it. I prefer the Iz-ray-el pronunciation though. Anyways, I love this name and country names are cool. It is not common which is nice:)

Beautiful. Both pronunciations roll off the tongue nicely. I do think it is unisex though.

I like it, but it might be seen as a political statement.

Israel is a blessed name.

Bruh, this name is awesome!
It is literally the name of God's chosen people. I have a couple of friends named Israel and the name is awesome!
It sounds elegant, confident, and sound. Plus, it rolls right off the tongue unless you're trying to say it poorly.

City names are okay, but country names? Nah.

I have learned to love the last name. Growing up in America... and looking back at my ancestors, who came in on Ellis Island, and learning about where I came from is intriguing. Personally it saddens me to see people hate or fear a name without seeing a heart. I love waking up with this name every day... because without it I would have never learned to understand others pain or better show compassion to those around me. Names do define us individually. It’s up to us to allow what we call ourselves to negatively impact our own life or those around us.

People use Chad and Jordan, so what's wrong with Israel? Israel is a biblical name even.

Kid would get teased with this name.

I would consider using this name if it wasn't for the whole Palestine thing.

I like this name; especially the short form Izzy. Very original!

Israel is my given name. I have always liked my name and take pride in it. I served in the US ARMY for 7 years, and yes a lot of people didn't like my name while serving in Iraq. Some people actually went as far as saying that I couldn't be named that, which I thought was funny because this was usually people at the other end of my barrel. I've always enjoyed being named Israel. If you are named Israel, be proud of it.

I quite like this name despite the criminal, Apartheid state.

I liked this name until Jill Duggar used it on her kid, especially because of the rather cringe-worthy reasons she and her husband had for using it. Now I'm afraid that people are going to be using it only because of that obnoxious reality show couple.

I love and revere the sight and sound of this name. I actually know of a 20-something Izrael - his English parents deliberately went with the "wrong" spelling so not to have their son's name confused with the modern state.

Why is this name rated so low? It's much better than so many names out there. I don't love it, but it certainly doesn't deserve such a low rating.

I'm Arab and I don't mind this name at all. I actually kind of like it and, as the previous user says, it's better than some crap being given to kids these days.

This does not sound nice for a name to be honest. :|

Israel would have to have a twin called Jordan.

Most people don't like the name because it's so different, but I love it! I like it for a girl and would pronounce it... Is Ray Ell instead of Is Ray Ul. Does anybody else like this name like that?

Before the comment section becomes a political battlefield, I would like to comment that Israel was a name before it was an ancient nation, and therefore obviously before it was the modern nation, and it is simply an alternative way of naming someone after the Biblical Jacob, and "Israel" should be no more controversial, in my opinion, than "Jacob" is.

Israel as a modern-day country does NOT have a long history; in fact, only after WWII. I'm not anti-semitic (I know a lot of Jewish people and have no problem with the Jewish faith), but I am anti-zionist. Not the same thing. I know several Palestinians, very nice people. But this is no place for politics. You can draw your own conclusions. Other than the fact that I dislike the country, I dislike the sound of the name. Add to that the fact it sounds like something a pro-Israel extremist would name their child, and well, the only thing it has going for it is that it does look quite nice written down.

Israel has a much more attractive sound and spelling than Palistine, Iran, Iraq, or any other Middle Eastern nation, and a long history. Israel would be an excellent middle name for a child.

It sounds ugly and like "is real". Even worse, it will arouse the anger of Palestinians and anti-Zionists.

It may have been used for some time now, but sheesh, it's a country.